Position and Length of Appendix among Delhi Population-An Autopsy Based Study

Abstract

Vermiform appendix reportedly shows lots of variations in its position and length among different individuals. The signs and symptoms presented by acute appendicitis requiring medical or surgical intervention may vary accordingly. Hence, medical practitioners should have a fair knowledge of such variations to diagnose the underlying pathology. Knowledge about variations in the position and length of the appendix is also equally important for its removal through minimally invasive surgery. The present study was conducted at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi from October 2018 to March 2020 to observe the variations in position and length of appendix in the dead bodies brought for routine medico-legal autopsies. Among 200 randomly selected deceased individuals, males were 88.5% whereas females were 11.5%. Maximum numbers of individuals were found in the age group 31–40 years (23%), followed by 41–50 years (22.5%) and then 21–30 years (22%). The mean age of the individuals was 43 ± 14.98 years, with an age range varied from 14 to 90 years. Position of the appendix was found pre-ileal in 6.5%, post-ileal in 10%, promonteric in 12%, pelvic in 21%, retro-caecal in 27.5%, para-colic in 13.5%, sub-caecal in 6.5% and others in 3% cases. Retro-caecal position was the most common position in the present study. The mean length of the vermiform appendix was found to be in the range of 0–5 cm in 10.5%, 5–10 cm in 63%, 10–15. cm in 21.5%, 15–20 cm in 4.5%, and more than 20 cm in 0.5% cases. The mean (average) length of the vermiform appendix was 8.4 ± 3.07 cm, with a range varied from 4.2 cm to 21.1 cm. The position of the appendix could not be related to the sex and age of the individual or to the length of the appendix.